Method of making a weld connection for a fluid line, method of disconnecting it, welded fluid line connection, and mounting tool

Abstract

A method of making a weld connection for a fluid line, in particular for the transport of liquid hydrogen by: (a) providing a first fastener connected to a first fluid line and a second fastener connected to a second fluid line; (b) positioning the fasteners so that they face each other; (c) providing a sealing element between the first fastener and the first fastener so that it encloses an inner piping provided within the fasteners when they are connected; (d) pressing the first fastener and the second fastener against each other so that the sealing element is pressed between the fasteners and seals the enclosed inner piping; and (e) welding the first fastener to the second fastener, whereby a continuous weld connection is created which completely surrounds the sealing element and the enclosed inner piping.

1 . A method of making a weld connection for a fluid line, comprising the steps:
 (a) providing a first fastener connected to a first fluid line and a second fastener connected to a second fluid line;   (b) providing a sealing element between the first fastener and the first fastener so that the sealing element encloses an inner piping provided within the first and second fasteners when the first and second fasteners are connected;   (c) pressing the first fastener and the second fastener against each other so that the sealing element is pressed between the first and second fasteners and seals the enclosed inner piping; and   (d) welding the first fastener to the second fastener, wherein a continuous weld connection is created which completely surrounds the sealing element and the enclosed inner piping.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fasteners are positioned via locating elements provided between the first and second fasteners and clamped together before the first and second fasteners are welded to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second fluid lines is grabbed by a mounting tool, and at least one of the first and second fasteners is surrounded a by the mounting tool which presses the first and second fasteners against each other. 
     
     
         4 . A method of disconnecting a welded fluid line connection, wherein the welded fluid line connection comprises at least two fasteners welded together, wherein each fastener is connected to a fluid line, a sealing element positioned between the at least two fasteners so that the sealing element encloses and seals an inner piping provided within the at least two fasteners, and a weld joint completely surrounding the sealing element,
 the method comprising the steps of:   (a) opening the weld joint while holding the at least two fasteners together;   (b) creating a gap between the at least two fasteners while the sealing element is still contacting each of the at least two fasteners and enclosing the inner piping;   (c) blowing out, or rinsing out, or blowing out and rinsing out the gap;   (d) thereafter separating the at least two fasteners from each other.   
     
     
         5 . A welded fluid line connection, comprising:
 a first fastener connected to a first fluid line and a first fastener connected to a second fluid line,   wherein the first and second fasteners are welded together at a welding area which forms a continuous weld joint which completely surrounds and seals an inner piping of the first and second fasteners,   a sealing element provided between the first fastener and the second fastener, wherein the sealing element is positioned between the inner piping and the welding area and completely surrounds and seals the inner piping.   
     
     
         6 . The welded fluid line connection according to  claim 5 , wherein the sealing element is compressed between the first and second fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The welded fluid line connection according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first fluid line, or the second fluid line, or both are configured as a pipe; or   the first fluid line, or the second fluid line, or both is configured as an equipment unit of a fluid line installation; or   the first and second fasteners are configured as flanges; or   the first and second fluid lines are configured to transport liquid hydrogen; or   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The welded fluid line connection according to  claim 5 , wherein locating elements provided are between the first and second fasteners and are configured to exactly position the first and second fasteners relative to each other. 
     
     
         9 . A mounting tool for connecting fluid lines, wherein a first fluid line and a second fluid line each comprise a fastener provided at an end of the respective fluid line, the mounting tool comprising:
 a first clamp unit configured to hold the first fluid line, or the fastener provided at the end of the first fluid line, or both;   a second clamp unit configured to press the fastener of the second fluid line against the fastener of the first fluid line;   wherein the first and second clamp units are configured to move against each other to press the first and second fasteners together and wherein each comprise   (a) a pipe clamp configured to hold one of the first and second fluid lines, or   (b) one or more arms configured to surround one of the fasteners in order to press the one fastener against the other fastener, or   (c) both (a) and (b).   
     
     
         10 . The mounting tool according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the one or more arms are removable; or   the one or more arms are equally distributed over the one fastener when the one fastener is pressed against the other fastener; or   the fasteners are configured as flanges; or   the first fluid line, or the second fluid line, or both the first and second fluid lines are configured as a pipe; or   any combination thereof.